Backpain

Cheer Muldonach, I think we need to look a bit deeper into this one.

Thanks, just a couple of clarifications needed. What does a ectomycorrhizal oaks look like? and how will I know when I see a generalistic endomycorrhizal microfungi. Sounds like we need to hire in a biologist to explain this one.

What are peoples views on managing ancient woodlands. I help look after 45 acres of woodland which has been managed a long time ago for mining prop and first world war timber but since then its been neglected. We want to improve it and encourage people to use it and we want to impove biodiversity. We also want to get a small fire wood income from if we can. There's lots of oak and some elm and lots of syc and holy. We're gettin advice about woodland management plans but thought it would be a nice topic of conversation.

Hi, I'm looking for a part time position 2 or 3 days a week as 2nd climber / groundsman. Have all necessary NPTC tickets also have Chap8, First Aid and Pre 97 Licence, so ready to tow and used to working hard for long hours. Starting a part time position training marginalise / out of work youths woodland management skills so need so extra income to feed the family:001_rolleyes: Anything around the East Midlands (Derby, Leics, Nott etc) would be appreciated. Please PM any opportunities. Cheers Backpain

That's fine mate but you can't live a pink pink meals forever. Mine does all that plus the shopping too. She's ever got her old man on the stacking system.....he's 75. I just fell it, bring it home and they do the rest.... I love it!

Can you deliver me some well seasonned logs on your steam roller Fred. God bless you son of Lancashire x

My advice would be to have a drive around the moor's find some wind blown ash etc and knock on some doors. It has worked for me in the past and this year I found 3 ash tree's blow over all for free.

Christ! I know the feeling. 70ft for two bits of dead wood on a windy day. Sack that, thats for the young lads to feed their ego's on.

Also have a mixture but love my little DMM's and will buy some more soonl. Have a rock exotica pirate which opens by pulling the gate down instead of up......I use it on my main line but after 6 months still not sure about it. I'm sure I've heard the gate click when I'm moving around....it's never opened and I'm sure its safe but I feel like I'm climbing with a poltegeist.

It's got to be the future if you have the right burner set-up, advice welcome re flue. I've just split a cube of pine which I felled two years ago once its fully dried I'm gonna try it with anger. I load the burner up with beech or ash and it cooks me. Obviously I work outdoors all day so I need little warmth of on evening. The wife however is like a Salamander roasting away in an aquarium! I agree hardwood may not always be necessary. Next time I take a pine down it's coming back to the yard!!!

Right, I'm not massive but I'm not small.... 6' and 13st but I've climbed in a few harnesses. I started with a Navaho and found it the same as you, its not really a work position harness but a good place to start. I've used a Komet dragonfly (i think) with a seat and your right it will restrict your movement. Weaver, now don't be affraid! They're bullet proof, cheap and perfect for a big fella but talk about ball crackers the leg straps are like a guillotine. Sequoia are nice but they're like a sports harness very light and the belt doesn't have that much padding, although I have seen big fella's in them. I finally discovered the Skylotec Humming Bird, you have to step into the leg loops which is a bit tricky but once it's on you'll really notice the difference. I would recommend trying as many harnesses as you can before you commit your hard earned money. I payed £180 for mine and it was worth every penny. Don't skrimp though or buy second hand....it's one of your most important pieces of kit.

You could buy a replacement bridge for a Komet butterfly including the shackles, that might work if you can find somewhere to fix it. I'd shell out for a new harness me self. Still love old Don to bit though, what an incedible climber.

I've been thinking along the lines of the freedom of information act. They should publish who owns the woodlands that have been planted. Its in the public interest. One thing I did find out online which was shocking was that lots of them have recieved stuardship grants! I don't believe for one minute they are spending them otherwise there would be more of us out there "making woods work"

Hi, We're looking for anyone in the National Forest who owns or know's a woodland owner who needs their woodland managing. We are willing to carry out planting and formative pruning work at reasonable prices. We are also willing to offer thinning services for free subject to access and quality of timber. Anyone intered please pm me. Thanks.

Things have moved on since my last post and I have circa 150 medium sized Polpars which need felling and extracting. Does any know of a contractor probably one who supplies woodchip or kindling who might be interested in taking them away for free. They're owned by a woodland community group who can't afford to pay for the work. The access is reasonably good and they're located near Leicester. Cheers.

I'm selling 1m qty at £65 delivered, its seasonned dry and dry stored so it arrives clean and dry. I'm planning to put my prices up after crimbo. The timbers free as I do thinning work for free. I work mine out from using a 1m cube vented sack unloaded into a wheel barrow and it works out at 8 barrow loads per cube. I don't do this everytime.....obviously. This fills the back of a Nissan Navara flat. Not had any complaints yet and the orders keep trickling in. Bit quiet compared to last year but I'm thinking mild weather is having an effect on peoples buying habbits.

Things starting to pick up at last. Offered a discount on early orders and wahoo the phone started to ring. Must be the long term forecast. Lets get splitting!

This is the point where the two wounds are in the first picture, both are about 20 - 30 years old and were originally filled with cement. There's no signes of infection. Above here where the diameter reduces are the two main branches of the tree.

Hi, can I bag this book next please...whoever has it please let me know and I'll pm you my address. Thanks

Cheers

Just wanted to ask if Poplar is any good for firewood. I've heard its ok for woodchip boilers. I have a chance to take some down but don't know what to do with the waste.

Thanks for all the comments. You've certainly given me some area's to look into, are there any books you would recommend to improve my knowledge on these issues? Risk wise my gut feeling is that it will be safe to climb. I base this mainly on the fact that its a beach and I tried to split some the other day and it was like iron. If it were a sycamore I'd be sticking a daft price on it. Thanks.

So its safe to climb then? i.e. it poses no danger of snapping.

The cavity is on the the back/outside face and there's no signes of stress, no bark fracturing either. The cavity is quite old. probably 30 years and was filled with cement. There's no sign of fungal infection. I'm really trying to assess the risk before I go up there and decide if the stress of felling out the top will cause me to **** my pants before I die :-)

Hopefully with photo's this time. Its the limb on the far right on the second photo